Other Names:  syn. Euphorbia bracteata, Pedilanthus pavonis

Description:

This upright succulent plant branches from the base with narrow, cylindrical stems, presenting ovate leaves with thick mid-veins; unusual flowers with rounded red bracts from late spring to fall; an interesting addition to the garden or containers

Ornamental Features

Tall Slipper Plant features showy chartreuse flowers with buttery yellow overtones and red bracts at the ends of the stems from late spring to mid fall. Its oval leaves remain green in color throughout the year.

Landscape Attributes

Tall Slipper Plant is an open herbaceous evergreen perennial with a rigidly upright and towering form. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Tall Slipper Plant is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Vertical Accent
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Tall Slipper Plant will grow to be about 6 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America, and parts of it are known to be toxic to humans and animals, so care should be exercised in planting it around children and pets.

Tall Slipper Plant is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.